List of museums and cultural institutions in Indonesia

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (August 2012)

This list includes many museums and cultural institutions in Indonesia (including aquariums, zoos, and botanical gardens, following the definition of the International Council of Museums).

Heritage buildings such as candi, mosques, colonial churches and buildings with no site museum should not be placed in the list.

History

Colonial period

Before the 20th-century, there was little interest in the study of the native culture of Indonesia by the colonial government. Most anthropologic studies were done by a few non-governmental institutions and individuals. Among the non-governmental institution was the

Except for the Radya Pustaka Museum in Surakarta (1890), no other major museums were established in the 19th century. It was only in the 1930s that local museums began to appear, usually privately initiated, by civil servants and Catholic and Protestant missionaries. These museums are praiseworthy, but are not always in expert hands, and are often run by boards which do not always function continually.^[2] Some museums suffer from the lack of regular resources, and some have disappeared completely, e.g. the Karo Museum in Berastagi, North Sumatra, set up by Dr Neuman, was abolished during the Japanese occupation (1942–45); and the Banjarmasin Museum built by Dr Malinkrodt, an expert on customs and traditions in Kalimantan, was burned down.^[2]

At the beginning of the 20th century, the colonial government became interested in the maintenance and restoration of cultural remains. In 1901 it set up the Commissie in Nederlandsch Indie voor Oudheidkundige Onderzoek van Java en Madoera, headed by Dr J. L. A. Brandes. In 1913, this became the more effective Oudheid-kundige Dienst van Nederlandsch Indie (Archaeological Service), under Professor Dr. N.J. Kromm. The government also employed officials to make a study of local languages and started the Kantoor voor Inlandsche Zaken.^[1]

In 1918

Modern technology and cultural change leads to disappearance of indigenous handicrafts. There was no longer a market for plait-work, textiles, earthenware, and brass, silver and gold objects. The result was a gradual process of cultural impoverishment. A need for money forced people to sell their heirlooms on the market, and many objects that should have been kept in Indonesia found their way to foreign countries. This condition prompted the building of the Sana Budaya Museum in Yogyakarta in 1935. Dr. F. D. K. Bosch, then Head of the Archaeology Service, and now Museum Director of the Batavia Society, first referred to cultural impoverishment, and the need for historical and cultural museums, to encourage people to appreciate their own products and to improve the quality of their handicrafts.^[2]

The late Director of the Municipal Museum of Surabaya, Von Faber, emphasized the role of museums in education. The famous painter, Walter Spies, actively helped in the creation and management of the Bali Museum in Denpasar. Unfortunately, the decision to establish museums at the time was not matched by a determination to find experts capable of managing them properly. Only a few language experts like Professor Husein Jayadiningrat and Professor Dr. Purbacaraka were interested in museums-mainly because the university produced few experts in history and the social sciences, but concentrated on training physicians, lawyers, technicians and civil servants. It was not until independence that the social sciences began to develop.^[2]

Japanese occupation

During the brief period of Japanese occupation between 1942 and 1945, there was a stimulation on Indonesian culture.^[1] One of the cultural society established by the colonial Japanese government was the Keimin Bunka Sidosho or KBS in 1943. The core policy of the KBS is to promote the cultural unity of the "Greater East Asia". Agus Jaya was appointed as head of the arts, Usmar Ismail as head of film and drama, Armijn Pane as head of literature, and Ibu Sud as head of dance and singing. The KBS actively held exhibitions and performances in big cities of the Japanese-occupied Dutch East Indies. During the three-and-a-half years of Japanese occupation, the Indonesian arts flourish with dozens of art exhibitions, performances, and awards. Among local artists member of the KBS were Emiria Sunassa, Henk Ngantung, Agus Djaja Suminta, Kartono Yudokusumo, Dullah, Basuki Resobowo, Sudiardjo, Otto Djaja, Subanto, Abdulsalam, Suyono, Surono, Siauw Tik Kwie, Ong Lian Hong, Tan Sun Tiang, Liwem Wan Gie, Harijadi S, Tan Liep Poen, Sukardi, Affandi and S. Tutur.^[3]

Another movement founded by the Japanese government was the People's Power Movement (Poesat Tenaga Rakjat, Poetera) on 9 March 1932.^[4] Even though Poetera was largely a political organization, the movement had its own cultural division, with native artist Sodjojono appointed as the head of the fine arta and cultural division.^[5][6][1]

Post-independence

The newly independent government of Indonesia established the Ministry of Education and Culture in accordance with Article 32 in the

In 1956, there were several changes in the Department of Culture, which include the additional responsibility of museum management (the Museum Section).[7] Other changes were: the conversion of the Archaeological Division into the autonomous Institute of Archaeology; the Language Division in the Institute of Literature became the Language Division of the Literary Faculty of Indonesia; and the Language Division became the Sub-Division of Customs and Traditions.^[7]

Later, the Department of Culture was included into the Directorate of Culture as part of the ministerial reorganization of the 1960s. The reorganization also converted the Museum Section into the autonomous National Museum Institute. Following the reorganization, the Ministry of Education and Culture consisted of one Directorate of Culture and four autonomous institutes: Archaeology, Language & Literature, National Museums, and History & Anthropology. The responsibility of opening provincial "cultural offices" was given to the Inspectorate of Provincial Culture.^[7]

New Order Period

At the start of the New Order, the regime of Suharto converted the Ministry of Education and Culture into five Directorates-General. The Directorate-General of Culture itself was divided into five directorates: Art, Cultural Education, Archaeology & History, Museums, and Language & Literature.^[7] Other restructuring occurred in 1969, reducing the Directorates-General into three; this time the Directorate-General of Culture consisted of three directorates: Art, Art Education, and Museums; and four Institutes: National Language, Archaeology, History & Anthropology, and Music & Choreography.^[8]

The New Order period also saw the expansion of the Armed Forces History Center and the encouragement of the development of museums of militaristic in nature. One of the reason for military involvement at first is because of the problem of internal divisions. This led to an accepted strategy of promoting shared values and identity across the forces through the use of a centralized military museum for older and younger generations of the soldiers.

The number of museums in Indonesia in 1945 was 26 (including aquariums, zoos, and botanical gardens (following the definition of the International Council of Museums). Between 1945 and 1968, this increased to 46. In 2010 there were 281 museums in Indonesia,^[11] 80 of which are State Museums.^[12] At the beginning of 2015, the number of museums in Indonesia was 325.^[13] As of May 2015, Indonesia had 412 museums.^[13]

The Directorate for Museums introduced categories for the various collection types: there are general and special museums, there are privately maintained and state-run museums, both by the central and provincial governments. Those museums kept by the central government in the main operate under the administration of the Ministry of Education and Culture. Military museums are supervised by the Defence Ministry.^[14]

The most frequent type is the General Provincial Museum (Museum Umum Propinsi) which exists in almost all provincial capitals. These museums usually consist of several sections: natural history (geological, biology), ethnography, and history. Objects are sometimes flatly arranged in display cases with poor explanations. More recently established museums have already achieved higher standards with thoughtful and appealing expositions.^[14]

In Indonesia, the increase in the number of museums has not yet been matched by an increase in quality. Buildings are often unsuitable for display and for socio-educational activities; competent staffs are lacking; the public does not yet appreciate the educational role of museums; funds are lacking to maintain collections and extend building; and so on. There are not enough museums for 120 million inhabitants and a large number of State and private universities. Big cities like Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Bandung and Semarang need centers for science and culture, and museums as places of study and leisure.^[2]

Museums by region

Jakarta

Jakarta contains the most museums in Indonesia with over 50 museums within its 661 square kilometers area. The museums in Jakarta cluster around the

The recreational area of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in East Jakarta contains almost twenty museums since the 1970s within its complex.

North Jakarta and Thousand Islands

• Maritime Museum
• Onrust Archaeology Park

West Jakarta

• Jakarta Old Town
  • Bank Indonesia Museum
  • Mandiri Museum
  • Fine Art and Ceramic Museum
  • Jakarta History Museum or Museum Fatahillah
  • Wayang Museum
• Jakarta Textile Museum
• Museum Lukisan Universitas Pelita Harapan
• Museum 12 Mei Universitas Trisakti
• The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara

Central Jakarta

• Bentara Budaya Jakarta
• Formulation of Proclamation Text Museum (the site where the text of the nation's proclamation of independence was composed in 1945)
• Gedung Joang '45
• Gedung Kesenian Jakarta
• Gedung Mohammad Hoesni Thamrin
• Jakarta Cathedral Museum
• Jakarta Planetarium
• Monas
• Museum Adam Malik (1985, closed in 2005)^[15]
• Museum Anatomi Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Indonesia
• Museum Jenderal Besar Abdul Haris Nasution
• Museum Kebangkitan Nasional
• Museum Pers ANTARA
• Museum Puri Bhakti Renatama
• Museum Sasmita Loka Jenderal Ahmad Yani
• Museum Sumpah Pemuda
• National Gallery of Indonesia
• National Museum
  or Museum Gajah
• Taman Prasasti Museum

East Jakarta

• Museum Loka Jala Srana
• Museum of PKI Treason
• Monument of Sacred Pancasila
• Taman Mini Indonesia Indah
  • Asmat Museum
  • Indonesian Hakka Museum, formal opening at August 30, 2014
  • Indonesia Museum
  • Indonesia Soldiership Museum
  • Indonesia Stamp Museum
  • Insect Museum and Butterfly Park
  • Istiqlal Museum
  • Komodo Indonesian Fauna Museum and Reptile Park
  • Museum of Electricity and New Energy
  • Museum of Heirloom
  • Museum of Lighting
  • Museum of Science and Technology
  • Museum of Telecommunication
  • Museum of Transportation
  • Oil and Natural Gas Museum
  • Purna Bhakti Pertiwi Museum
  • Sports Museum
  • Timor Timur Museum

South Jakarta

• Basoeki Abdullah Museum
• Harry Dharsono Museum
• Kites Museum of Indonesia
• Museum Dirgantara Mandala
• Museum Kriminal (Mabak)
• Museum Manggala Wanabhakti
• Polri Museum
• Ragunan Zoo
• Reksa Artha Museum
• Satria Mandala Museum

Java

Banten

• Benteng Heritage Museum, Tangerang

West Java

• Amerta Dirgantara Museum, Subang
• Asian–African Conference Museum, Bandung (1980)
• Bandung Geological Museum, Bandung (1928)
• Bandung Zoo, Bandung (1933)
• Barli Museum, Bandung
• Bogor Botanical Garden, Bogor
  (1817)
• Bogor Zoological Museum
  , Bogor (1894)
• Cibodas Botanical Garden, Cibodas
  (1852)
• Ethnobotanical Museum, Bogor
• Indonesia Post Museum, Bandung
• Kraton Kacirebonan Museum, Cirebon
• Kraton Kasepuhan Museums, Cirebon:
  • Museum Diorama Bale Panyawangan, Purwakarta (2015)
  • Museum Kereta Singa Barong
  • Museum Benda Kuno
• Museum Linggarjati, Kuningan
• Museum Palangan B. Kokosan, Sukabumi
• Pembela Tanah Air Museum, Bogor
• Museum Bank Indonesia, Bandung
• Museum Perjuangan Jawa Barat, Bandung
• Museum Perjuangan Jawa Barat, Bogor
• Museum Prabu Geusan Ulun
  , Purwakarta
• Museum Tanah Nasrel, Bogor
• Percandian Batujaya Museum, Karawang
• Sri Baduga Museum, Bandung (1980)
• Tambaksari's Site Museum, Ciamis
• Wangsit Mandala Siliwangi Museum

Central Java

• Ambarawa Railway Museum, Ambarawa
• Borobudur Complex, Magelang
  • Karmawibhangga Museum (1983)
  • Samudra Raksa Museum (2005)
• Danar Hadi Batik Museum, Surakarta (2008)
• Indonesian World Records Museum, Semarang
• Keraton Surakarta Museum, Surakarta
• Kretek Museum, Kudus
• National Press Monument and Museum
  , Surakarta
• Pekalongan Batik Museum, Pekalongan (1972)
• Radya Pustaka Museum, Surakarta (1890)
• Ranggawarsita Museum, Semarang
• Sangiran archeology museum, Sangiran
• Tumurun Private Museum, Surakarta

Special Region of Yogyakarta

Due to the importance of Yogyakarta during the war of independence from the Dutch, there are numerous memorials and museums.

• Affandi Museum
• Code Museum
• Dewantara Kirti Griya Museum
• Dharma Wiratama Museum
• Dirgantara Mandala Museum
• Fort Vredeburg Museum
• Gembira Loka Zoo
• Jogja National Museum
• Kraton Yogyakarta Museum
  • Hamengkubuwono IX Museum
  • Train Museum
• Monumen Pahlawan Pancasila
• Museum Batik "Ciptowening"
• Museum Karbol TNI Angkatan Udara
• Museum Kayu Wanagama
• Museum Kebun Raya Gembira Loka
• Museum of Biology Gadjah Mada University
• Museum of Geotechnology and Mineral
• Museum Pergerakan Wanita
• Museum Perjuangan Yogyakarta
• Museum Purbakala Pleret
• Museum Pura Paku Alaman
• Museum R.S. Mata "Dr. Yap"
• Museum Tani Jawa Indonesia
• Museum Tembi (Rumah Budaya Tembi)
• Nyoman Gunarsa Museum
• Prambanan Museum
• Museum Sasmitaloka Panglima Besar (Pangsar) Jenderal Sudirman
• Sonobudoyo Museum (1939)
• Sasana Wiratama
• Taman Budaya Yogyakarta
  • Museum Anak Kolong Tangga
• Ullen Sentalu Museum
• Wayang Kekayon Museum
• Yogyakarta Batik Museum
• Yogya Kembali Museum, Sleman Regency
• Museum Sandi

East Java

• 10th November Museum, Surabaya
• Airlangga Museum, Kediri
• Batu Secret Zoo,
  Batu
• Brawijaya Museum, Malang
• Health Museum of Dr. Adhyatma, Surabaya
• House of Sampoerna, Surabaya
• Sidoarjo
• Museum Angkut, Batu
• Bank Indonesia Museum, Surabaya
• Museum Malang Tempo Doeloe (Good old times), Malang
• Museum Mpu Tantular, Surabaya
• Nahdlatul Ulama Museum, Surabaya
• Submarine Monument, Surabaya
• Surabaya Zoo, Surabaya
• Trowulan Museum, Trowulan (1987)
• Bondowoso Rail and Train Museum, Bondowoso Regency

Lesser Sunda Islands

Bali

• Agung Rai Museum of Art
• Bali Botanic Garden, Bedugul (1959)
• Bali Museum (1930)
• Blanco Renaissance Museum
• Buleleng Museum, Singaraja
• Sanur
• Museum Pasifika
• Museum Rudana
• Museum Semarajaya
• Neka Art Museum, Ubud (1982)^[16]
• Purbakala Archaeological Museum
• Puri Lukisan Museum

West Nusa Tenggara

• West Nusa Tenggara State Museum (1982)

East Nusa Tenggara

• East Nusa Tenggara State Museum

Sumatra

Most museums in Sumatra are ethnographic musea specializing in cultural heritage e.g. textiles and other traditional artifacts.

Aceh

• Aceh Museum, Banda Aceh (1915)
• Aceh Tsunami Museum, Banda Aceh (2009)
• Cut Nyak Dhien Mansion Museum
• Museum Malikussaleh, Lhokseumawe

North Sumatra

• Batak Museum, Balige
• Maimun Palace Museum, Medan
• Museum Huta Bolon Simanindo, Simanindo
• Museum Joang '45, Medan
• Museum Perjuangan TNI Kodam I Bukit Barisan, Medan (1971)
• Museum Rumah Bolon Pematang Purba, Pematang purba
• Museum Simalungun, Pematangsiantar (1940)
• Boxing Day Tsunami
  . A new building for the museum has been constructed.
• North Sumatra Museum, Medan (1982)
• Sumatran Numismatic Museum, Medan (2017)
• TB Silalahi Center, Balige Subdistrict (2008)
• Tjong A Fie Mansion Museum, Medan
• Zoological Museum of Pematangsiantar, Pematangsiantar (1936)

Riau Province and Riau Islands

• Bagansiapiapi Chinese Museum, Bagansiapiapi
• Bagansiapiapi Fish Museum, Bagansiapiapi
• Bagansiapiapi History Museum, Bagansiapiapi
• Bagansiapiapi Muslim Museum, Bagansiapiapi
• Museum Kandil Riau,
  Tanjung Pinang
  (1988)
• Museum Sang Nila Utama, Pekanbaru (1994)
• Siak Sri Indrapura Palace Museum, Indrapura (Building from 1889)
• Museum Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alamsyah, Tanjung Pinang

West Sumatra

• Adityawarman Museum, Padang (1977)
• Bung Hatta Museum, Bukittinggi
• Buya Hamka Birthplace Museum, Agam (2001)
• Tri Daya Eka Dharma Museum, Bukittinggi
• 30 September 2009 Earthquake Museum, Padang (2012)
• Gedung Joang '45, Padang
• Goedang Ransoem Museum, Sawahlunto
• Galeri Tambang Mbah Soero, Sawahlunto
• Information Center of Minangkabau Culture, Padang Panjang (1990)
• Museum Rumah Adat Baanjuang, Fort de Kock, Bukittinggi
• Railway Museum
  , Sawahlunto
• Museum Taman Bundo Kandung, Bukittinggi (1934)^[17]
• Museum Tri Daya Eka Dharma, Bukittinggi (1973)
• Bukittinggi Zoological Museum, Bukittinggi
• Pagaruyung Palace Museum
• Rumah Puisi Taufiq Ismail, Tanah Datar
• Rumah Kelahiran Tan Malaka, Lima Puluh Kota
• Rasuna Said Mansion Museum

Bengkulu

• Bengkulu State Museum
• Fort Marlborough, Bengkulu City

Jambi

• Jambi City
  (1988)
• Muaro Jambi Temple Compounds Site Museum, Muaro Jambi Regency
• Jambi City
  (1993)

South Sumatra and Bangka–Belitung Islands

• Al-Qur'an Al-Akbar Museum
• Balaputradeva Museum, Palembang
• Museum Monpera, Palembang
• Museum UPT Belitung, Belitung
• Sriwijaya Kingdom Archaeological Park, Palembang
• Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Museum, Palembang
• Textile Museum, Palembang
• Word Museum, Belitung

Lampung

• Ruwa Jurai Museum, Bandar Lampung (1988)

Kalimantan

Most museums in Kalimantan specialized on cultural heritage such as textiles and other traditional artifacts. In South Kalimantan, most museums are shaped like the traditional Banjar house.

Central Kalimantan

• Palangkaraya
• Kayu Sampit Museum, East Kotawaringin Regency
• Lewu Hante Museum, Pasar Panas, East Barito Regency

North Kalimantan

• Bulungan Sultanate Museum, Bulungan Regency

East Kalimantan

• Kalimantan Art Gallery, Samarinda
• Mulawarman State Museum, Tenggarong Subdistrict
• Museum Batiwakkal, Gunung Tabur Subdistrict, Berau Regency^[18]
• Museum Kayu Tuah Himba, Tenggarong Subdistrict
• Museum Perjuangan Merah Putih, Sanga-Sanga Subdistrict
• Sadurengas Museum, Paser Belengkong Subdistrict^[19]
• Sendawar Museum, West Kutai Regency^[20]

South Kalimantan

• Candi Agung Museum, Amuntai, North Hulu Sungai Regency
• Lambung Mangkurat State Museum, Banjarbaru
• Wasaka Museum, Banjarmasin

West Kalimantan

• Pontianak
• Museum Dara Juanti, Sintang^[21]
• Museum Istana Kadriyah, Pontianak^[22]
• Museum Kapuas Raya, Sintang^[23]

Sulawesi

Most museums in Sulawesi specialize in cultural heritage such as textiles and other traditional artifacts.

North Sulawesi

• Manado Wanua Paksinata North Sulawesi Provincial Museum, Manado

Central Sulawesi

• Kaili Souraja Museum, Kaili
• Palu Central Sulawesi Provincial Museum, Palu

South Sulawesi

• Museum Batara Guru, Wara Utama Subdistrict
• Museum Indo' Ta'dung, Kete Kesu, Toraja Utara
• Museum La Galigo, Fort Rotterdam, Makassar
• Sungguminasa Balla Lompoa Museum, near
  Ujung Pandang

Southeast Sulawesi

• Buton Island
• Southeast Sulawesi State Museum, Kendari

The Moluccas

Ambon was the site of the first recorded museum in Indonesia, a botanical museum built by Georg Eberhard Rumphius in 1662. Nothing remains of it except books written by himself, which are now in the library of the National Museum of Indonesia.

Today, museums in the Moluccas specialize in Ambonese ethnography or artifacts from the earlier Sultanates in the Moluccas.

Maluku

• Siwa Lima State Museum, Ambon (1973)^[24]

Maluku Islands

• Kedaton Sultan Ternate Museum, Kota Ternate Utara Subdistrict, Ternate (1982)^[25]
• Sonyie Malige Museum, Tidore^[26]
• World War II and Trikora Museum, Morotai

Papua

Papua province

• Asmat Museum of Culture and Progress, Agats (1973)
• Loka Budaya Museum, Cenderawasih University, Jayapura (1973)^[27]
• Papua Province State Museum, Jayapura (1983)^[28]

See also

• Tourism in Indonesia
• Culture of Indonesia
• List of museums

References